Pathways to Preventing Substance Use Among Youth in Foster Care

Course overview

This study examines the effectiveness of the KEEP SAFE program in reducing substance use among youth in foster care. KEEP SAFE, a family-based intervention, focuses on enhancing the caregiver-youth relationship and reducing associations with deviant peers, hypothesizing these factors would mediate substance use outcomes. The study involved a randomized controlled trial with 259 foster youth and followed participants over 18 months. Results showed significant reductions in substance use linked to improved caregiver relationships and decreased peer delinquency, with similar effects observed across genders.